A/N: How weird is that? Once I stop updating the story, it starts getting reviews... Thanks for reviewing lulu bell! Your review has spurred me into action.... the only thing I'm worried about is that I'll change this character because of the other fics I'm writing now... Let's hope it turns out ok! Now, it's time for Nilulmaien to figure out everything that's going on...

Falling Leaves

Chapter Four ~ Ask, And It Will Be Answered

Nilulmaien opened her bleary eyes, sitting up in her bed, breathing hard. It was unusual for her to have a nightmare. She had to struggle to get out of her bed, because the sheets were wrapped around her so tightly, evidence that she had been tossing and turning all night. Finally, she tossed aside her covers and went to her balcony to look out on the sunlight filtering through the leafy city. The sight of Elves going around their daily business in the majestic city calmed her, and she began to dismiss the feeling of fear that the nightmare had brought on. Nilulmaien stood leaning on the railing for quite some time, until she suddenly shivered from a breeze, and realized that she was still in her sleeping clothes and it was far too cold to be outside dressed like that. She entered her room, washed, dressed, and prepared herself for the day.

Dressed once more in her archery clothing, Nilulmaien went to find Avarthon, hoping that perhaps her mentor would be able to help her sort out the dream. As she walked, she paid close attention to the trees. They seemed fine, though in her dream they had been losing all of their leaves. She frowned, and reminded herself to ask Avarthon about that when she found him.

"Milady!" Nilulmaien was going to turn around to yell at the Elf who had raised her voice so early in the morning, regardless of whoever they were yelling at. In the process of turning over, she stumbled on a root that she hadn't noticed. She lurched forward, caught off balance. The Elf tried to grab her arm to steady her, but her fingers only barely grasped the material of Nilulmaien's shirt. She continued to pitch forward, and she tucked her head in and bent her knees, somehow turning the fall into a roll. Shocked, she stood up and brushed herself off. After the shock of her acrobatics wore off, embarrassment took hold. She turned to the Elf who had been yelling. She cleared her throat nervously.

"Who were you calling?" she asked, trying to take the attention away from herself.

The Elf, a young girl, perhaps only 700 years old, replied. "You, milady. Are you Lady Nilulmaien?"

She nodded and the Elf motioned to follow her. "What's your name?"

"Phelia."

"And where are we going?"

"The Lady requested your presence at an important meeting."

Nilulmaien was surprised. She had only met the Lady the night before. And yet, the whole affair had seemed too planned out. And now a meeting? She added another thing to the list of questions to ask Avarthon. She was sure that he was behind all of this.

They began to climb a series of high stairs, ascending to the main hall in which the Lord and Lady resided during the day. As they climbed, Nilulmaien had to force her other thoughts out of her head to focus on the stairs. Despite her sleep, she did not feel refreshed, and just wanted to go back to sleep, even though she already had her share of sleep for the next two days. The thoughts of sleep caused her to stumble on a step. Phelia held her arm to steady her, then they continued to climb.

After what seemed like a very long time, they reached the platform where several Elves were assembled. Nilulmaien bowed to the Lord and Lady, feeling ridiculously out of place because she was dressed in casual archery clothing, while everyone else was wearing elegant robes. She took a seat around a large oval table that Phelia led her to, then stood behind Nilulmaien. Nilulmaien looked around the table, trying to find a familiar face. She soon found that she recognized almost every face there. Avarthon was there, Thinelir, her languages tutor, was there, so was most of her family. She recognized several Elves from the ball the night before, though she was never introduced to them. All in all, there were about twenty people seated around the table, with Celeborn and Galadriel seated at the head of it, and Nilulmaien on the right side of Celeborn.

Celeborn began the assembly. "Good Morning, to all those that have been here with us before," with this he looked at those guests that Nilulmaien had seen at the party the night before, "and those that are here for the first time." Celeborn nodded to Nilulmaien and her family. She wanted to ask why she was here at all, but felt that this was the type of meeting where it was formal, and speaking out of turn would be frowned upon. Luckily, Celeborn explained. "You are here for two reasons, one of which applies to all here, the other is more localized. Let us begin with that matter which weighs heavily upon us all."

Celeborn motioned to one of the male Elves, and sat down. The Elf introduced himself, stating that he was a military commander. "I bring important news. The Galadhrim have received distressed messages from many people in the East. Tidings of great evil have reached us. Mordor is regaining power, and soon there will be a war to fight. We fear that the power of the Elves alone will not be great enough to conquer the Dark Lord again. Our alliances with Men have grown weak. Should it come to battle, which it undoubtedly will, we will be in a dire situation. But, as most here have heard, there is a hope that we have placed in other hands."

Another Elf stood, with an emblem of both Rivendell and Lothlorien on his clothing, although his hair was fair. "In the Council of Elrond, in the halls of Imladris, it was decided that a quest shall be undertaken. The One Ring, discovered not long ago in the hands of a Halfling, is to be destroyed."

Nilulmaien knew of the Ring and of all its history, though she had not lived at that time. It's rediscovery did not bode well for the Elves, and she feared that soon Lothlorien would be forced to suffer. The darkness weighed heavily on her heart, only adding to the disturbing sights in her dreams.

The Elf continued. "The Halfling was chosen as the Ringbearer, and with him eight companions to aid him on his road. An Elf, two Men, a Dwarf, and three Halflings. The final companion is Mithrandir. They make their way to Mount Doom, were the Ring must be cast into the fire. We must hope that they succeed, otherwise we will be faced with a foe not fought in ages."

Celeborn nodded and addressed the unspoken question. "How does this matter concern those of you who are here? That answer has several layers. The first is that you are the leaders of your divisions, in whatever occupation you hold here in Lothlorien. Your tasks are to prepare your people for whatever lies ahead. We must have all the strength we can muster. I trust you to use your judgment wisely, and I pray that it will go well for us. The second layer is that many of you will be directly involved in the events, and your actions will affect the outcome. I do not need to emphasize the importance of secrecy and the deeds entrusted to you. In time, you will be told of what they are and you will be expected to follow through though... though the price may be great." He said this with sadness, and Nilulmaien was happy that she did not fully understand his words. "The third and final layer is connected to the second reason why we are here. One of you has yet to be trained to your task. Thus, we reach the matter of Nilulmaien."

All eyes turned to her and Nilulmaien blushed under all the attention. "Forgive me, but I do not understand my purpose here."

"Do not worry yourself with it, it is not what we discuss today," the Lady assured her. "We only discuss what you should learn, for you need to know much, and some of it is strange to us." At these words, Avarthon took over and explained to those gathered the strange things he observed when tutoring his charge.

"Nilulmaien is an Elf, none here would argue that. And yet, all the ease of the bow and skill of the sword that any Elf would usually possess seems to escape her. She cannot hit a target, though her aim is perfect. She cannot overcome me in a sword fight, though she knows all the techniques. This is a mystery that has concerned me since we began training together, and I believe I may have finally found an answer. When aiming without care, she is able to hit a moving target dead on. When driven to desperation, she is able to improvise and take down her opponent. I think the problem is that Nilulmaien underestimates her skills, and her doubt causes her to fail. She will only attack once the danger is true. It is as though she is afraid." Avarthon paused and directed his attention at the girl. "You will not hurt me when you attack. I want you to put more effort into it, but why do you not heed my advice?"

Though Nilulmaien believed that the question had been rhetorical, everyone awaited her answer. "I do not know why. But it is my belief that I am not cut out for fighting. That shot was simply luck, and nothing else." She was determined that she would never be an archer or a swordsmaster. It appeared that they planned to do this to her, but she refused.

Avarthon met the gaze of the military commander, and then turned to another Elf. "This is clearly a task for you, Haldir."

Nilulmaien was further surprised. Not only were the Lord and Lady involved in this for some reason, but now the Captain of the Galadhrim was also involved? How far did this go? And why was it so important?

"Perhaps she does not feel the threat. I know an easy solution to that problem. Nilulmaien, you would do better to realize your potential when you are placed in a situation where you must rely on your skills. I am leading several of my best archers on a hunting expedition within the next week. The trip would do you good, and I would wish for you to join us. Is that in accordance with your plans?" he asked, looking around the table for any objections. Nobody objected except for a slender Elf woman robed in pale green.

"If I may ask, Lady, this has so far dealt with only Nilulmaien's training as a warrior. Perhaps her other training should also commence--"

Galadriel interrupted the woman. "I understand your concern Faetien, but I would rather wait until she is able to protect herself."

This seemed to be the end of any discussions taking place, even though it appeared to be a rather short meeting. As Celeborn adjourned the meeting and everyone filtered away, Nilulmaien approached the pair of High Elves timidly. There were still several questions that she would like to have answered. As she approached them, she felt incredibly young, despite her 2000 years.

"Lord, Lady, I was wondering why I have been singled out in such a way? I do not understand the purpose of this."

"As we have said, it is not for you to know, because it is still some time away," Celeborn answered mysteriously.

"But we may say this much: you have an incredible gift, Nilulmaien, though you do not know it yet. At the end of the first War of the Ring, it was prophesized. Without you, the quest of the Halfling may yet fail," Galadriel added. The couple looked at her and smiled, and left silently.

Nilulmaien was left on the high platform, above most of the treetops of Lothlorien, wondering what it could mean. This meeting had left her with more questions than answers, and now her future seemed more unclear to her than ever before.

A/N: Wow, I haven't updated this story in a long time. But I was especially lacking of activities today, so I dug up this chapter, since it has been sitting unfinished for several months, and finished it off. Hopefully someone out there is happy that I updated. :D ~MoI~